Chris Rusin implodes as Colorado Rockies drop another barnburner

The Colorado Rockies lost 14-9 on Saturday night. No, that isn’t a misprint. Yes, that is the exact same score from Friday night’s loss to the New York Mets.

The back-to-back night’s of exactly the same score was the only thing odd about the Rockies loss on Saturday night. Everything else was just as predictable as anyone who has been watching this team consistently would have guessed.

Chris Rusin, on the heels of a complete-game shutout a week ago, looked as polar opposite as possible on Saturday, giving up 11 earned runs in two-plus innings of work. The 3rd inning was one for the record books, as Rusin faced eight Mets without recording an out. That was enough for manager Walt Weiss to pull out the hook and send the lefty starter to the showers.

The bad start spoiled another great performance by the Rockies offense. Down 3-0 in the bottom of the 2nd, Kyle Parker cleared the bases with a triple, tying the game up and giving the Rockies new life. Instead, Rusin gave the runs, and many more, right back to the Mets. Down 14-4 in the 6th, the Rockies scored four runs thanks in part to back-to-back home runs from Jose Reyes and Charlie Blackmon. At that point, however, it wasn’t going to be enough and for the second straight night, the Rockies scored nine runs and lost without the opposing team having a pitcher record a save.

If there are optimistic fans left over, they are nowhere to be found. Defending this Colorado Rockies team isn’t just difficult anymore, it is impossible. What is left to be said? This team is terrible. There aren’t any excuses that the team can make. There have been injuries, but nothing major to the starting pitchers. The bullpen has suffered a serious blow, losing Adam Ottavino, but there is little a closer can do to help a team that gives up two touchdowns per night.

The fact is, the Rockies rebuilding process, as much as they are avoiding calling it that, is going to be a long one. This thing isn’t going to turn around in just one or two years. It is going to take all of five years to right the ship, and that is only if the Rockies don’t make huge mistakes along the way. It means that this team is going to have to use their high draft picks wisely and not make mistakes in the development process. They cannot afford to miss on their picks, especially when they are almost certainly going to be taking the first or second pick in the entire draft.

They are also going to have to be wise in how quickly they bring up their young players. They don’t necessarily need to be great, but they do need to show enough potential that guys like Nolan Arenado and Corey Dickerson will see enough promise that they won’t be high-tailing it out of town when they get their first swing at free agency.

The Rockies are in a world of hurt. The majority of the fans that come through the gates at 20th & Blake are either rooting for the other team, or couldn’t care less about the team that is playing on the field. The hardcore fans are getting fed up and want different results. They are tired of squandering a team that possesses so much talent on the offensive side.

For the fans, the best thing to do is simply hold on and try to enjoy the ride. Take notice of the good plays that happen, and the talent of individual players. Enjoy breakout seasons like DJ LeMahieu is having, and marvel in the grace that Nolan Arenado displays in the field. Those are the only things worth paying attention to. If fans want to watch a real baseball game, they aren’t going to get it from the Rockies in the next year or two.